Root-zone drying regulates the hydrothermal environment of citrus, synergistically enhancing fruit quality and water use efficiency

The dataset encompasses key soil physicochemical properties and leaf physiological parameters collected from a controlled greenhouse drip irrigation experiment on 'Ehime 28' citrus trees conducted in 2021–2022. Soil measurements include accumulated soil temperature (SAT, °C·d), available phosphorus (SAP, mg·kg⁻¹), available potassium (SAK, mg·kg⁻¹), acid phosphatase activity (ACP, mg·g⁻¹·d⁻¹), sucrase activity (SC, mg·g⁻¹·d⁻¹), and urease activity (UE, mg·g⁻¹·d⁻¹) across different deficit irrigation treatments during fruit enlargement (Stage III) and color-turning/sugar accumulation (Stage IV) periods. Leaf physiological data comprise activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD, U·g⁻¹), peroxidase (POD, U·g⁻¹), catalase (CAT, U·g⁻¹), and leaf potassium content (LK, %). These parameters were analyzed to evaluate the regulatory effects of regulated deficit irrigation on root-zone hydrothermal conditions, nutrient availability, enzymatic activities, and antioxidant responses, providing insights into soil-plant interactions under water stress.